Apparatus for the Application of Heat Shrinkable Products

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for shrinking a sleeve around an object, comprising providing an object to be covered by a shrink sleeve, positioning a heat shrink sleeve over the object, providing a heater and a shell around the heat shrink sleeve, having the heater heat the shell, and having the shell heat the heat shrink sleeve.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/713,334 filed on Aug. 1, 2018, titled “Apparatus For The Application Of Heat Shrinkable Products,” the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a tube or pipe junction covering, system, and method. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a shell that may be used to facilitate heating and/or shrinking of a heat shrinkable sleeve or covering.

BACKGROUND

It is often advantageous to provide a protective covering around pipes, tubes, or the like. This protection is helpful, for example, where a pipe is exposed to elements that could damage or degrade it, such as may be the case with an underground, underwater, or outdoor pipe or pipeline.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, systems and methods are provided including a shell that may be heated to facilitate and/or optimize the heating and shrinking of a heat shrink sleeve or the like around coupled objects, such as welded steel pipes.

In illustrative embodiments, a method for shrinking a sleeve around an object is provided. An object to be covered by a shrink sleeve is provided. A heat shrink sleeve is provided over the object. A heater and a shell are provided around the heat shrink sleeve. The heater heats the shell and the shell heats the heat shrink sleeve.

In other illustrative embodiments, a system for covering an object with a cover is provided in which a first body and a second body are coupled at a junction. A cover is positioned over the junction. A shell is positioned over the cover. A heater is positioned over the shell. The heater is actuatable to heat the shell and the shell is heatable to provide heat to the cover. The cover, when heated, shrinks to conform or contact the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded assembly view of an illustrative embodiment of a pipe covering system that includes pipes to be covered, a polymer shrink sleeve, and a shell that may be heated to facilitate shrinking or contracting of the polymer shrink sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken parallel to the diameter of an illustrative embodiment of a heat shrink sleeve system that includes pipes to be covered, a polymer shrink sleeve, a shell that may be heated to facilitate shrinking or contracting of the polymer shrink sleeve, and a heater arranged around the circumference of the shell;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a heat shrink system taken parallel to a longitudinal axis of the heat shrink sleeve system;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of joined pipes partially wrapped and being wrapped by a polymer shrink sleeve;

FIG. 5 is an end view of an embodiment of joined pipes to be wrapped by a polymer shrink sleeve that is in a planar or flat state;

FIG. 6 is an end view of an embodiment of a pipe covering system that includes joined pipes wrapped with a heat shrink sleeve, and partially surrounded by a shell;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the pipe covering system of FIG. 6 with the shell in a closed position around the pipes and heat shrink sleeve, with a heater partially closed around the pipes and sleeve;

FIG. 8 is an end view of an embodiment of joined pipes to be wrapped by shrink sleeve and closure patch, shown in a planar or flat state; and

FIG. 9 is an end view of an embodiment of a pipe covering system that includes joined pipes wrapped with the shrink sleeve and closure patch of FIG. 8.

The Figures are provided for illustrative purposes and are not necessarily shown to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrative embodiments of this disclosure relate to equipment and devices for use in applying a sleeve around a tube, pipe, or the like. Such a sleeve (e.g., a heat shrink sleeve) may be used to cover, seal, and/or protect an underlying object, like a pipe. This protection may be helpful, for example, where a pipe is exposed to elements that could damage or degrade the underlying object, such as may be the case with an underground, underwater, or outdoor pipe or pipeline.

Some embodiments of a tube or pipe covering system 10, such as shown in FIG. 1, may include a first tube or pipe 100 and/or a second tube or pipe 200, which may be joined or coupled together at a junction 150 (e.g., a weld site) to extend the length of the combined tube or pipe. Either or both of pipes 100, 200 may at least partially define a flow channel F therethrough. Flow channel F may be used for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, forming or providing a conduit or channel through which fluid contents may flow and/or be delivered, as may be the case for example, with a water or oil pipeline. Either or both of pipe 100 and pipe 200 may include, for example, a coated section 110, 210. One or more coatings may be applied to protect a pipe from damage, degradation, and/or corrosion, for example, from the environment. For instance, a steel pipe may be subject to corrosion or rusting from the environment and a coating may be applied to protect the pipe from such corrosion or rusting. Any of a variety of coatings or materials may be applied to pipe 100 and/or pipe 200 to provide coated section 110 and/or coated section 210. For example, one or more layers of polymer based, rubber based, and/or other materials may be applied, including but not limited to polyethylene, polypropylene, fusion bonded epoxy, coal tar enamel, and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. Moreover, any number of layers of coating material may be used, if any is used. For example, some or all of the materials may be applied in one, two, three, four, five, or any number of layers, such as may be the case with three layer polyethylene (3-LPE) or three layer polypropylene (3-LPP). It is understood that coatings may be applied to pipes 100, 200 in any of a variety of ways or any combination thereof, such as by wrapping pipes 100, 200, and/or spray coating, roll coating, painting, or the like.

First pipe 100 and second pipe 200 may be joined or coupled in any of a variety of ways. For example, pipes 100, 200 may be aligned so that they are adjacent or abutting end to end and, if the pipes are formed of metal for example, they may be welded together. In some embodiments, either or both pipes 100, 200 may include a cutback or at least partially uncoated or exposed section 102, 202 at or near junction 150. For example, if pipes 100, 200 are substantially formed of steel or other metal, they may be joined, attached, or coupled by welding. The heat associated with the welding may be harmful to the coating or material at coated sections 110, 210. Exposed sections 102, 202 may be substantially free of coating material that is adversely affected by such heat so that pipes 100, 200 may be welded together without damaging and/or melting the coatings.

The exposed or uncoated areas 102, 202 may be protected by a cover, tubular, or sleeve 300. Sleeve 300 may be applied to pipes 100, 200 at or near junction 150 after pipes 100, 200 have been coupled together, for example, by welding so that sleeve 300 may provide protection to pipes 100, 200 from corrosion, rusting, damage, or the like. Sleeve 300 may extend from first coated section 110 to second coated section 210, and/or may somewhat overlap either or both of first coated section 110 and second coated section 210 to protect either or both of pipes 100, 200.

Sleeve 300 may be of the type that it shrinks when subject to heat to provide a tighter fit and/or seal with pipe 100 and/or pipe 200, for example as part of a heat shrink system 20 indicated in FIG. 2. Sleeve 300 may be formed at least partially of a heat shrinkable material. Heat or heat energy H may be provided, supplied, and/or induced from heater 500 to shell 400, for example, as indicated by the arrows H. Sleeve 300 may be provided with a diameter larger than that of pipes 100, 200 to facilitate sliding it over pipes 100, 200 or wrapping it around pipes 100, 200. When heat is applied, for example, from a heating device or heater 500 as indicated by heat arrows H, sleeve 300 may shrink down, as indicated by shrink direction arrows S to form a tighter coating or sealing relationship with pipes 100, 200 over junction 150. As discussed more below, sleeve 300 may be a sheet that is wrapped around pipes 100, 200 and/or may include a closure patch 360 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) to facilitate placing sleeve 300.

A shell 400 may be provided so that it may surround and/or be configured around sleeve 300. Shell 400 may be actuated, e.g., heated, so that it may provide better shrinking of sleeve 300. Better heating may allow, for example, quicker cycle times and/or better coating, sealing, and/or covering of pipe 100 and/or pipe 200 by sleeve 300, resulting in a more efficient sleeve 300 and/or more efficient sleeve shrinking process. Moreover, use of shell 400 to heat sleeve 300 may provide more consistent and/or more reproducible results by, for example, reducing operator variability and/or operator error. Shell 400 may increase efficiency and/or improve coating or sealing of pipes 100, 200 via sleeve 300 with any of a variety of heaters or combination thereof, including but not limited to radiant and induction type heaters. For example, an induction heater 500 may use an electric current to induce heating in shell 400, which may be formed of or include metal or steel or other material in which heat may be induced by an induction heater 500. Shell 400 may be sized, shaped, and/or located to increase or optimize efficiency of heating sleeve 300. For example, shell 400 may become heated and may be adjacent to and/or in relatively close proximity with sleeve 300 to minimize heat loss between shell 400 and sleeve 300, and/or to minimize convection currents between shell 400 and sleeve 300 that may act to cool and/or reduce evenness of heating of sleeve 300, which in turn may reduce the efficiency of shrinking S of sleeve 300. Providing shell 400 too close to sleeve 300 may increase risk of damaging heater 500 when slid over or wrapped around pipes 100, 200.

Shell 400 may be heated and/or receive heat or heat energy (or thermal energy) from an external source, such as a heater 500 as shown in FIG. 2 along with an illustrative embodiment of a heat shrink sleeve system 20. It is understood that heat H may be induced in shell 400, which may be the case, for example, where heater 500 is an induction type heater, and/or the arrows shown in FIG. 2 do not require that heat H travel from heater 500 to shell 400. Heated shell 400 may then cause shrinkage of sleeve 300 as indicated by arrows S, with sleeve 300 shrinking or contracting toward pipes 100, 200.

As shown in FIG. 3, a space or void 180 may be present between sleeve 300 and pipes 100/200 prior to the shrinking of sleeve 300. When heater 500 is actuated and/or shell 400 actuated or heated, sleeve 300 may shrink down to more tightly conform and/or seal exposed pipe sections 102, 202 and junction 150. The presence of shell 400 may allow for relatively quick heating of sleeve 300, thereby reducing heat shrink cycle time, while also forming relatively few or minimal air pockets between sleeve 300 and pipes 100, 200. Such air pockets may reduce the sealing or protection of junction 150 and/or exposed pipe sections 102, 202. A target air or void presence between sleeve 300 and pipes 100, 200 may be established. For example, if a target of about 3% or less of air or voids between sleeve 300 and pipes 100, 200 after heat shrinking of sleeve 300 is established, the cycle time to shrink sleeve 300 may be set to match. It is understood that a slower cycle time may be required in some circumstances to achieve the desired void or air pocket presence. The introduction of shell 400 into the heat shrinking process of sleeve 300 may allow the target void or air pocket presence to be met while allowing a relatively quicker cycle time.

Heating of shell 400 and/or sleeve 300 may be done in any of a variety of ways, including substantially uniformly or other than uniformly. For example, shell 400 and/or sleeve 300 may be heated inside-out or with the longitudinal middle of sleeve 300 and/or shell 400 heated first and the remaining material heating from the middle toward the ends. Such an inside-out heating method may be used, for example, so that sleeve 300 shrinks toward pipes 100, 200 at or near junction 150 first, with shrinking progressing from the middle toward the ends of sleeve 300. Such a shrinking process may allow pushing of air, gas, and/or fluid from space 180 out of sleeve 300 at or near the ends overlapping coated sections 102, 202 without forming, or while reducing the formation, of pockets where air, gas, and/or fluid may get trapped between sleeve 300 and pipes 100, 200. The heating approach, whether, uniform or inside-out or otherwise, may be provided in any of a variety of ways or combinations thereof. For example, heater 500 may be provided and/or arranged so that it heats shell 400 as desired, for example substantially uniformly or alternatively in the middle first. Shell 400 may be sized, shaped, and/or configured so that it is heated and/or transfers heat to sleeve 300 substantially uniformly or alternatively in the middle first for an inside-out heating approach. It is understood that, while FIG. 3 shows shell 400 having a substantially uniform cross-section, shell 400 may have a cross-section formed in any of a variety of ways. For example, shell 400 may be thicker at the ends and thinner in the middle, shell 400 may be thicker in the middle than at the ends, and/or shell 400 may include one or more ribs or other structures or features.

A gap or space 480 may be present between heater 500 and shell 400, for example, as a result of the sizing or diameter of heater 500 and shell 400. Gap or space 480 may facilitate sliding heater 500 over shell 400, for example while shell 400 is surrounding a portion of pipes 100, 200, and/or facilitate closing heater 500 around shell 400 if heater 500 is provided in such a way that it may open and close around shell 400, pipes 100, 200, and/or junction 150. Either or both of heater 500 and shell 400 may be able to open and close around pipes 100, 200, junction 150, and/or sleeve 300. Opening and closing of heater 500 and/or shell 400 around pipes 100, 200 and sleeve 300 may facilitate placing heater 500, shell 400, and/or any or all of pipe covering system 10 or heat shrink system 20 around pipes 100, 200, junction 150, and/or sleeve 300 without necessitating sliding system 10, 20 or any component thereof from an end of pipe 100 or 200, which may be difficult for example in the case of an already installed pipe or pipeline. Opening and closing arrangements of heater 500 and shell 400 are discussed more below. Space 480 may be provided with and/or at least partially filled with an insulator or packing material 485. Insulation 485 may be provided for any of a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, protecting heater 500 from shell 400, or vice versa, during installation and/or operation, and/or for preventing or reducing heat loss from shell 400. For example, insulation 485 may be a rock wool type insulation, which may be high temperature resistant rock wool that may reduce heat shrink cycle time by increasing temperature and/or reducing air movement. Shell 400 may be a part of heater 500 and/or coupled thereto. Shell 400 may be effectively and/or operationally a part of heater 500 so, for example, when heater 500 is positioned over sleeve 300 shell 400 is also.

There may be a gap or space 380 provided between shell 400 and sleeve 300 and/or pipes 100, 200. Gap 380 may be provided and/or maintained for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to preventing or inhibiting contact between shell 400 and sleeve 300 or coated sections 110, 210, which may for example damage sleeve 300 and/or coated sections 110, 210. Any of a variety of methods or mechanisms may be used to provide or maintain gap 380. For example, one or more spacers may be provided between shell 400 and pipes 100, 200. In some embodiments, a pair of wedges made of heat insulating material such as Teflon® may be placed on a top side of pipes 100, 200 to support the weight of shell 400 without allowing shell 400 to directly contact sleeve 300 and/or coated sections 110, 210. Seals, pumps, and/or other elements or devices may be provided to help remove air, gas, or fluid from space 380 between shell 400 and sleeve 300. Removing air, gas, and/or fluid from space 380 may provide enhanced shrinking and sealing of sleeve 300 by, for example, reducing or removing circulating air or currents from space 380 that may otherwise cool or reduce efficiency and/or quality of the shrinking of sleeve 300.

Any of a variety of heaters 500 may be used to provide heat or thermal energy to sleeve 300 so that it may heat shrink onto pipes 100, 200 over junction 150. For example, heater 500 may be a radiant type heater or an induction type heater. In the case of a radiant heater 500, heat H may radiate or travel from heater 500 to shell 400, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. In the case of an induction heater 500 that may use an induction coil, the coil or heater 500 may induce heat in shell 400 via an electric current.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, sleeve 300 may be wrapped around pipes 100, 200, as indicated by wrap direction arrows W. Wrap W may bring first side 351 and second side 352 of sleeve 300 closer together so that they may be coupled or attached together to form a substantially continues tube or sleeve 300. Sleeve 300 may extend from first end 303 to second end 304 to provide a length of sleeve 300 that may cover junction 150 and/or exposed sections 102, 202 (not shown in FIG. 4) of pipes 100, 200.

FIG. 6 shows sleeve 300 wrapped around pipes 100, 200, with shell 400 being closed as indicated by closing direction arrows C₁ around pipes 100, 200 to provide pipe covering system 10. In this embodiment, shell 400 is openable and closable about shell hinge 455 with a first side 451 of shell 400 being brought toward second side 452 of shell 400 so that first side 451 and second side 452 may attach, fasten, and/or couple to close shell 400 around pipes 100, 200 and sleeve 300. Shell 400 may be openable in a direction opposite to closing direction C₁.

As shown in FIG. 7, heater 500 may be closable around pipes 100, 200, sleeve 300, and/or shell 400, in similar fashion as described above in relation to FIG. 6 or otherwise, to arrive at an embodiment of heat shrink system 20. Heater 500 may be openable and closable about hinge 555, so that first side 551 and second side 552 may be brought together as indicated by heater closing arrows Ca. FIG. 7 also shows shell closure 456, which may be provided, for example, to facilitate keeping shell 400 closed and/or locking it closed for the heat shrink procedure. Heater 500 may be openable in a direction opposite to closing direction Ca. Either or both of shell 400 and heater 500 may be include one or more pieces movably or rotatably attached to allow opening and closing of shell 400 and/or heater 500. For example, a half shell or clam shell design may be used.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a closure patch 360 that may be included, for example, to facilitate wrapping sleeve 300 around pipes 100, 200. For example, a first side 361 of closure patch 360 may be provided facing toward pipes 100, 200, with a portion of a second side 362 of closure patch 360 attached or coupled to sleeve 300 at or near sleeve first side 311 as indicated by attachment arrow A. Sleeve 300 with closure patch 360 may be wrapped around pipes 100, 200 as indicated by wrap arrows W so that sleeve second side 312 may also be coupled or attached to closure patch 360. Use of shell 400 may allow pre-heating of pipes 100, 200 and heating to shrink sleeve 300 through one heater 500, without use of an extra or separate heater to pre-heat pipes 100, 200 and/or sleeve 300.

In use, a user may provide one or more pipes 100, 200 joined or coupled for example at a junction 150. Pipes 100, 200 may be partially coated at sections 110, 210, with relatively uncoated, exposed, or cutback areas 102, 202. The user may provide a sleeve 300 with or without closure patch 360, and slide sleeve 300 or wrap sleeve 300 in a position over junction 150 and/or cutback areas 102, 202. The user may position shell 400 over sleeve 300 by, for example, sliding shell 400 into place over sleeve 300 or closing shell 400 around sleeve 300. Optionally, spacers or wedges or the like may be used to maintain shell 400 in a spaced apart relationship with sleeve 300 and/or coated sections 110, 210. Air, gas, or fluid may be pumped, sucked, or removed from the space 380 between shell 400 and sleeve 300. Heater 500 may be positioned over shell 400 by sliding heater 500 into position or heater 500 may be opened and closed around shell 400. Shell 400 and heater 500 may be coupled or affixed in such a way that they are able to simultaneously open and/or close about or around sleeve 300. A user may simultaneously open shell 400 and heater 500, position it adjacent or near sleeve 300, and simultaneously close shell 400 and heater 500 around sleeve 300. Heater 500 may be actuated, for example by provided electricity to it, and may actuate or heat shell 400 which in turn may actuate or heat sleeve 300 so that it may shrink around pipes 100, 200 thereby coating, protecting, and/or sealing them for example at junction 150.

Example

In an example embodiment, two 10 inch diameter, 11 mm thick, steel pipes were provided and welded together. The pipes were coated with 3 layer polyethylene (3LPE) with a cutback area of exposed steel pipe near the weld site. The exposed areas of steel pipe were wrapped with a 450 mm wide, 980 mm long, HTLP60-CPS heat shrink sleeve with a WPCP-IV closure patch, in a standard loose wrap method. The exposed areas of pipe were at 22 degrees Celsius, which was the ambient temperature. A 20 inch diameter, 600 mm wide Kelvin induction coil heater, with 650 mm wide heating wires, along with a 12 inch diameter, 2.6 mm thick, shell, was used to preheat the pipes to 70 degrees Celsius. The heater was powered by a 120 kVA generator. The heater was then used to heat the shell up to about 400 degrees Celsius to shrink the sleeve with closure patch around the exposed areas of pipe. It was found that little area of air pockets or voids were present between the sleeve and pipes and the process was performed in a reduced cycle time.

It should be understood that as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “on” unless that context clearly dictates otherwise. Finally, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meanings of “and” and “or” include both the conjunctive and disjunctive and may be used interchangeably unless the context expressly dictates otherwise; the phrase “exclusive or” may be used to indicate a situation where only the disjunctive meaning may apply.

The invention has been described with reference to particular exemplary embodiments. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. The embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive. The scope of the invention is reflected in the claims, rather than the preceding description, and all variations and equivalents which fall within the range of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

It is claimed:
 1. A method for shrinking a sleeve around an object, comprising the steps of: providing an object to be covered by a shrink sleeve, positioning a heat shrink sleeve over the object, providing a heater and a shell around the heat shrink sleeve, having the heater heat the shell, and having the shell heat the heat shrink sleeve.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using the heater to preheat the object covered by the shrink sleeve.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat shrink sleeve is heated to between about 200 and about 400 degrees Celsius.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat shrink sleeve is heated from a middle progressively toward each end to cause the sleeve to shrink in the middle before shrinking at the ends.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shell is openable and closable about the heat shrink sleeve, and wherein the method further comprises the step of closing the shell about the heat shrink sleeve.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the heater is openable and closable about the shell, and wherein the method further comprises the step of closing the heater about the shell.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the heater and the shell are each openable and closable about the heat shrink sleeve, and wherein the method further comprises the step of simultaneously closing the shell and heater about the heat shrink sleeve.
 8. A system for covering an object with a cover, comprising: a first body and a second body coupled at a junction; a cover positioned over the junction; a shell positioned over the cover; and a heater positioned over the shell; wherein the heater is actuatable to heat the shell and the shell is heatable to provide heat to the cover; wherein the cover when heated shrinks to conform or contact the object.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first body is a pipe.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second body is a pipe.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the cover is a heat shrinkable sleeve.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the heater is a radiant heater.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the heater is an induction coil heater.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the shell is made of steel.
 15. The system of claim 8, wherein the cover is positionable to have a similar cross-sectional shape and slightly larger size or diameter than the first body and second body.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the shell has a similar cross-sectional shape and slightly larger size or diameter than the cover when positioned around the first body and second body.
 17. The system of claim 8, wherein a space between the shell and cover is at least partially evacuated by a pump.
 18. The system of claim 8, wherein the shell has a substantially uniform thickness.
 19. The system of claim 8, wherein the shell has a centrally located area that is thinner than a distally located area located at or near at least one of a first end and a second end. 